The Anthropology of Immortality and the Crisis of Posthuman Conscience

Journal for the Study of Religions and Ideologies 14 (40):3-26 (2015)
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Abstract

In this article we aim to distinguish between the transhuman and posthuman condition, according to their anthropological, ontological, and ethical natures. We will show that the current historical moment can be considered the beginning of a transhuman civilisation, given that the characteristics of the transhuman are already present in today’s human being. We will show that a series of decisive limitations for belonging to the human condition are in the process of being transcended due to acquisition of attributes of divinity that human beings do not currently possess: omnipotence, omnipresence , ex nihilo creation – starting from the divine creative ideation – and immortality. Humans are increasingly taking on the attributes of divinity in the process of human enhancements. We will discuss the ways in which technology allows the human to overcome these limitations, elevating humans past their current condition, in a process in which they gain technological transcendence. Excepting immortality, all other limitations, once exceeded, generate a transhuman condition. Immortality generates a posthuman condition, since it can only be obtained by modifying the human ontological status from that of a biological being to that of a resident being in informatics networks. In order to clarify this process, we will discuss the concepts of everlastingness and artificial life prolongation

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References found in this work

Human genetic enhancements: A transhumanist perspective.Nick Bostrom - 2003 - Journal of Value Inquiry 37 (4):493-506.
Deconstruction of Charity. Postmodern ethical approaches.Antonio Sandu & Ana Caras - 2013 - Journal for the Study of Religions and Ideologies 12 (36):72-99.
Human Rights: Political Tool or Universal Ethics?George Cristian Maior - 2013 - Journal for the Study of Religions and Ideologies 12 (36):9-21.
Transhumanism.Francis Fukuyama - 2004 - Foreign Policy 144:42–43.

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